Can handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a can handling apparatus which has a first station for handling can bodies and which may include means for advancing the can bodies along a predetermined conveying path with the axis of the can bodies transverse to such conveying path. The cans are removed from the first conveying path by a rotating transfer wheel which has magnetic means at circumferentially spaced locations thereon. Each can is picked off from the conveying path and rotated about the transfer wheel and then removed by means of a stripper bar or blade so it can be deposited onto a second predetermined conveying path for further conveying of the can. Two or more of such transfer wheels may be utilized in any given can handling apparatus.

United States Patent Mojden CAN HANDLING APPARATUS PrimaryExaminer-Richard E. Aegerter lissrlrtunr li rayniner loseph E. ValenzaAttorney-Roy H. Olson, Richard R. Trexler and Richard A. Giangiorgi etal.

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a can handling apparatus which has a firststation for handling can bodies and which may include means foradvancing the can bodies along a predetermined conveying path with theaxis of the can bodies transverse to such conveying path. The cans areremoved from the first conveying path by a rotating transfer wheel whichhas magnetic means at circumferentially spaced locations thereon. Eachcan is picked off from the conveying path and rotated about the transferwheel and then removed by means of a stripper bar or blade so it can bedeposited onto a second predetermined conveying path for furtherconveying of the can. Two or more of such transfer wheels may beutilized in any given can handling apparatus.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Au 28, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Aug. 28, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Paten ted Aug. 28, 1973 4 Sheets$heet 4 CAN HANDLINGAPPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to anapparatus for transporting articles and more particularly to apparatusfor transferring metal cans or the like from one station to anotherstation, the stations being either at different altitudes or atdifferent horizontal locations.

Manufacturers of processed can products often utilize can bodies whichhave the product trade-dress applied thereto prior to filling, sealing,and packaging of the cans by the manufacturer. Application of thistradedress is achieved primarily through a lithography process, however,certain problems arrive in this regard during the conveying of the canbodies from station-tostation during processing. More specifically, thefilled or empty can bodies will be subjected to numerous bumps andshocks during conveyance which often dent the can bodies or materiallymar the trade-dress. When this occurs, the cans are rendered unsuitablefor sale.

Little or no problem is encountered so long as the cans are beingconveyed along a linear path, be it horizontal or vertical. When itbecomes necessary for the cans to undergo a change in direction,problems arise. The prior art methods of handling a change in directionalong the conveying path was to employ guide rails at the turns orpoints where the cans were to be removed from the linear conveyor path.In this regard, the cans were forceably engaged against the guide railthus enabling them to negotiate the conveyor curves or turns. In someinstances the cans are allowed to accumulate at a turn with the backpressure created by the continuous stream of cans being delivered tothis point causing the can bodies to be forced about the conveyor pathturn. With both methods, the can bodies bump against each other and theguide rails causing damage to the lithographed trade-dress.

In addition, the above-described arrangements are unsatisfactory forhandling relatively tall cans which may become unstable and have atendency to tip over while being transported. This is even more likelyto occur when the relatively tall cans contain a liquid which easilyshifts within the can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide an improved can handling apparatus for conveying metal cansor the like from one operating station to another operating stationwhile effecting a change in direction without the possibility of thecans being tipped over, or the trade-dress being damaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved can handlingapparatus wherein the cans are positioned upon a traveling magneticconveying belt at spaced apart locations and wherein the cans are pickedoff of the belt also at corresponding spaced apart locations, therebyeliminating bumping of one can against the next.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedcan handling apparatus wherein the cans are conveyed along apredetermined path and then have the direction of travel thereof changedwithout causing the cans to bump into guide or stop rails or the like orbump into one another.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved canhandling apparatus wherein the magnetic conveyor belt arrangement isprovided for transporting the can bodies vertically from a loweroperating station to a higher operating'station and wherein the cans arepicked off of the vertical conveyor by a transfer means which maintainsthe proper spacing between cans.

A feature of this invention is the use of a transfer wheel which has theaxis of rotation thereof extending substantially parallel to the axis ofthe can bodies and wherein the can bodies are picked off the conveyingpath onto the transfer wheel with the can bodies extending across thecircumference of the transfer wheel. In addition, the transfer wheelincludes at least a pair of spaced resilient rings or bands positionedto keep the can bodies from engaging the metal portions of the wheel,which might scratch the lithographed tradedress.

Briefly, the can handling apparatus of this invention includes a firstcan handling station which is here a vertical magnetic conveying beltfor transporting the cans along a predetennined conveying path. At theupper end of the vertical conveying belt is located a transfer wheelwhich has magnetic means located at spaced points along thecircumference of the wheel. Each of the magnetic means is locatedcircumferentially from the adjacent means a distance correspondingsubstantially to the linear spacings of the cans on the verticalmagnetic belt. As each can approaches the circumference of the magnetictransfer wheel, its appropriate magnetic means is being rotated intoposition and will cause the can magnetically to be transferred from thevertical conveyor belt to the rotating transfer wheel. The can body isthen transported along the circumference of the transfer wheel through apredetermined arc segment, which may be on the order of to 300, more orless, and then the can is picked off of the transfer wheel by means of apick-off blade which is positioned in close proximity to thecircumference of the transfer wheel. The pick-off blade comes betweenthe can surface and the circumference of the transfer wheel and causesthe can to be removed. The can bodies are then transported along asecond conveying path, this second conveying path being either magneticor non-magnetic as desired. Furthermore, a second transfer wheel may beincorporated at the downstream side of the vertical magnetic conveyor sothat can bodies are positioned on the vertical conveyor at theappropriate spacings, these spacings corresponding substantially to thespacings of the magnetic means of the upper transfer wheel.

Accordingly, other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be more fully realized and understood from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals throughout the various views of thedrawings are intended to designate similar elements or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a canhandling apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention and shows a vertical magnetic conveying belt for raising canbodies to a different altitude and further shows a transfer wheel at thetop of the conveying belt for changing the direction of travel of thecan bodies and a second transfer wheel at the bottom of the conveyingbelt for placing can bodies on the conveying belt at predeterminedspaced locations;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper end of the canhandling apparatus of FIG. 1 showing more clearly the details ofconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the upper end seen in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a topview of the upper end shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the transfer wheel shown at theupper end of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 illustrates the magnetic flux path of the magnetic pole membersof the transfer wheel; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4 illustrating theresilient ring about the circumference of the transfer wheel forcushioning the can bodies as they engage and leave the transfer wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG.1, a can handling apparatus is designated generally by reference numeral10 and is constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention. The apparatus 10 includes a magnetic vertical conveyor 12which receives a plurality of spaced can bodies I4, which are hereviewed from the upper end thereof. The can bodies 14 are placed on theconveyor I2 and transported along a predetermined path upwardlywhereupon the can bodies have their direction of travel altered inaccordance with this invention.

The conveyor 12 is formed of upperand lower pulley wheels 16 and 18,respectively, with a continuous web or belt engaged over said wheels.The web 20 has the active run 20a thereof receiving the can bodies whilethe return run travels from the pulley 16 to the pulley 18 free of cans.The pulley wheel 16 is driven by a drive motor 22 which has one outputshaft thereof direct coupled to the pulley wheel 16 for rotating thesame and a second output shaft 26, at right angles to the drive motor22, and is connected by means of a drive chain to a transfer wheel 30located at the top end of the vertical conveyor 12. As such, the motor22 will run the conveyor 12 and transfer wheel 30 in synchronization.

The conveyor 12 is preferably of the magnetic type, one construction ofwhich is illustrated in U. S. Pat. No. 3,523,602. As can beseen in theupper left hand portion of FIG. 5, the active run or reach 200 of thebelt 20 overlies a non-magnetic housing 21 disposed intermediate saidreach and a magnetic arrangement 23 disposed beneath said housing. Themagnetic arrangement 23 will extend for the major length of the conveyorl2 and establish a magnetic field along the length of said conveyorwhich attracts and maintains the can bodies in a proper upright positionrelative to the active web reach 20a. While the construction of themagnetic arrangement may vary, a preferred embodiment is shown in FIG.5. In this regard, a ceramic magnetic member 25 is employed inconjunction with a pair of elongate metal pole plates 27 and 29 disposedat the opposite side of said member 25. The pole plates 27 and 29function as north and south poles, respectively, and serve to focus themagnetic flux of the field created by the magnetic arrangement 23.

The transfer wheel 30 has a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnetassemblies along the circumference thereof and these magnet assembliesare of sufficient strength to attract the can bodies 14 from the web 20and cause them to remain in engagement with the pcriphe'ry of the driventransfer wheel 30. The spacing of the permanent magnet assemblies alongthe periphery of the transfer wheel 30 is substantially that of thespacing of the can bodies moving along the belt 20 so that a single canbody is picked off by each magnet as the conveying belt passes.

To provide uniform spacing of the can bodies where desired, a pluralityof closely spaced cans travel along a downwardly inclined chute 32 andthe cans are positioned onto the lower end of the conveyor 12 by asimilarly fashioned transfer wheel 34. That is, the transfer wheel 34has spaced apart magnets along the periphery thereof which spacingcorresponds substantially to the spacing of the magnets of the transferwheel 30. Furthermore, synchronizing means may be incorporated so thatthe transfer wheel 34 places the can bodies onto the vertical magneticbelt 20 so it will arrive at the upper end thereof substantiallysimultaneously as a magnetic member of the transfer wheel 30 moves intoposition to pick off or attract a can by magnetic force.

Once the can body 14 is magnetically fastened to or engaged with thetransfer wheel 30, it rotates with the wheel through a predetermined arcsegment until the can reaches a pick-off blade 36 which has a thinleading edge thereof in close proximity to the circumference of thetransfer wheel. The can body and transfer wheel are parted as the canpasses over the pick-off blade. The can then rolls down a chute 38 and,onto a substantially horizontal conveyor 40, which may be of themagnetic or non-magnetic type, as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the transfer wheel 30 is seen having fourequally spaced apart magnetic assemblies 42, preferably each including apair of rectangular ceramic magnet members 43 joined by a shunt plate43a. The magnet assemblies 42 each have. a pair of spaced apart polepieces 42a and 42b which are respective North and South poles, and tendto focus the magnetic flux or forces established by each magnet member43. These pole plates extend from the upper flat surface of the magnetmember 43 a distance sufficient to come in close proximity to thecircumference of the transfer wheel but still being slightly spacedtherefrom. A pair of resilient rings 44 and 46 are positioned about thecircumferential edges of the transfer wheel and on each side of thepermanent magnet assemblies 42. As a can body is attracted to the wheel30 by the magnetic flux from the corresponding magnets, the resilientrings 44 and 46 maintain the can body slightly spaced from the polepieces as indicated by reference numeral 48. Therefore, printed matteron the can body is not scratched or otherwise damaged by contact withthe iron pole pieces, or other segments of said wheel.

The transfer wheel 30 rotates about a shaft 50 which, in turn, isconnected to a gear 52 for engagement with the chain drive 28. The shaft50 is journalled by a pair of support bearings 54 bolted to a suitablesupport frame 56. An adjusting plate 58 is provided for horizontallyadjusting the position of the transfer wheel so that its peripheral edgecomes into close proximity with the position of the can body as theymove along the vertical conveying belt 20. This adjustment is providedby a plurality of bolts 60 which extend through elongated slots 58a ofthe plate 58.

The drive motor 22 may include a flexible coupling 62 so that slighterror in alignment is readily compensated for. Also, a suitable clutcharrangement 64 may be included, the clutch being either electrically ormechanically operated, so that the vertical conveyor can be engaged ordisengaged from transport operation while the transfer wheel ismaintained rotating.

Referring now to FIG. 3, still further details of construction areillustrated. Hence the support frame 56 is shown as part of a largerU-shaped frame structure fabricated to receive and support the shaft 50.The other support bearing 54 is located on the other side of thetransfer wheel 30 for journalling the same. The drive motor 22 issupported on a suitable plate structure 68 which is fabricated of anysuitable sheet metal components and can take any form as desired, solong as the spacing of the output shaft 26 and the shaft 50 aremaintained relatively constant, the drive chain 28 will not leave thedrive gears. Also, a suitable clutch arrangement may be incorporatedbetween the outward shaft 26 and the gear 52 of the transfer wheel 30 sothat the transfer wheel can be disengaged while the vertical conveyorbelt continues operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a top view of the vertical conveyor 12 and thetransfer wheel 30 is shown. Here it is clearly seen that the bearingsupports 54 are located outboard the transfer wheel and supported by theU-shaped frame 66. The drive motor 22 is shown having an auxiliaryoutput shaft 220 extending to the rear of the motor and can be used todrive other auxiliary conveyor means. Furthermore, the drive motor 22can be replaced by a gear reduction unit and the output shaft 22a isthen considered the input shaft to the gear reduction unit and driven byany suitable motor means. While the permanent magnet assemblies 42 arehere shown as employing rectangular ceramic magnets units 43, it will beunderstood that these permanent magnets can take any configurationeither round, square, or rectangular as shown. Furthermore, they may beformed of materials other than ceramic, as for example, soft iron,permanent magnet, or electromagnets, or the like. The permanent magnetassemblies 42 are secured to the transfer wheel 30 by connection to atransverse support plate 76 with a bolt 78 and a nut 78a, and thesupport plates 76 are fastened to end walls 70 and 72 of the transferwheel 30 by means of a plurality of recessed bolts 80. The transferwheel assembly 30 is fastened to the shaft 50 by means of a pair of setscrews 82, it being understood that other suitable fastening means canbe incorporated.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a more detailed showing is made of the magneticassemblies 42 which magnetically attract the can housing 14 to theperiphery of the transfer wheel 30. Here the space 48 is clearly seen asbeing maintained between the pole pieces 42a and 42b and the surface ofthe can 14. The spacing may vary depending on the resiliency of theresilient rings 44 and 46, softer rings causing the magnetic force toattract the can closer to the pole pieces while harder rings will causethe can to be attracted less toward the pole pieces. The magnetic fluxis indicated by a series of dashed lines indicated by reference numeral84 and passes from one pole piece, through the can skin, into the otherpole piece. Although the flux lines 84 are shown in an arcuate fashion,it will be understood that the primary flux path is through the skin ofthe can rather than through the air space within the can.

FIG. 7 clearly illustrates the construction of one end wall 72 of thetransfer wheel 30. The end wall 72, as well as the end wall 70, isprovided with an annular groove extending about the entire circumferencethereof to receive the resilient ring 46 therein. This ring issufficiently soft to prevent inadvertent scratching or marking of thecan surface so as to protect any printed matter thereon.

What has been described is a simple and efficient can handling apparatuswhich applies can housings to a vertical conveyor belt at spacedintervals and which picks off the can housings from the verticalconveyor belt at correspondingly spaced intervals to change thedirection of the travel of the cans. While only a specific embodiment isshown herein, it will be understood that variations and modifications ofthis invention may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the novel concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. Can handling apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyor includingendless belt means and magnetic means for maintaining can bodies inengagement with the active run of said belt means; a magnetic transferwheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a selected location alongsaid active run to remove said can bodies from said belt, the axis ofsaid wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means anddisposed generally perpendicular to the active run of said belt means,said transfer wheel including a plurality of magnetic assembliesdisposed about the circumference thereof at circumferentially spacedlocations, each said magnetic assembly including a magnetic arrangementand a pair of spaced pole pieces magnetically engaged therewith toprovide said pole pieces with opposite polarities, and at least two,spaced resilient ring members positioned about the circumference of saidwheel on opposite sides of said magnetic assemblies and defining theouter extremities of said transfer wheel, said magnetic assemblies beingdisposed radially inward of said resilient ring members such that canbodies will be attracted to and engaged with said transfer wheel whilephysically contacting only said resilient ring members to protect thesurface of said can bodies from damaging contact with the remainder ofsaid transfer'wheel.

2. Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each saidmagnetic arrangement is a pennanent magnet formed of a ceramic material.

3. The can handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spaced locationsare four in number.

'4. The can handling apparatus of claim l wherein said transfer wheel isformed by a rotatable shaft, parallel end plates secured to said shaftfor rotation therewith, with grooves formed in the circumference of eachof said end plates, said resilient ring members posi-' tioned in saidgrooves to provide a resilient surface against which each can body isurged against by magnetic force, and said magnet assemblies beingpositioned between said end plates at each of said spaced locations.

5. The can handling apparatus of claim 1 further including stripper barmeans positioned adjacent the circumference of said transfer wheel tocause the can bodies to be removed from the transfer wheel and directedto a second station for handling can bodies.

6. Can handling apparatus for conveying can bodies from a first stationto a second station while maintaining a desired degree of spacingbetween said can bodies, said apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyorincluding endless belt means and magnetic means disposed beneath theactive run of said belt means for maintaining can bodies in engagementtherewith; a first transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent andoverlying a first selected location along the active run of said beltmeans, the axis of said first transfer wheel being laterally spaced fromthe axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to saidactive run, said first transfer wheel including a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies; supply means operativelypositioned adjacent said first transfer wheel for supplying can bodiesthereto, such that can bodies will be attracted to and engaged with saidfirst transfer wheel at circumferentially spaced locations; and meansoperatively associated with said first transfer wheel for disengagingsaid can bodies therefrom to thereby dispose said bodies on saidmagnetic conveyor in spaced relation corresponding to thecircumferential spacing of said magnetic assemblies; a second transferwheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a second selectedlocation along said active run of the belt means, the axis of saidsecond wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means anddisposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said secondtransfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spacedmagnetic assemblies corresponding in number and spacing to those of saidfirst transfer wheel, such that said second transfer wheel willmagnetically attract and remove can bodies from said conveying meansupon said bodies reaching said second location, while maintaining thedesired spacing between said can bodies; and means for removing said canbodies from said second transfer wheel.

7. Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein each transferwheel includes at least two spaced resilient ring members positionedabout the circumference of the wheel on opposite sides of said magneticassemblies and defining the outer extremities of said wheel, such thatcan bodies will be attracted to and engaged with said transfer wheelswhile physically contacting only said resilient ring members.

8. Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each saidmagnetic assembly includes a magnetic arrangement and a pair of spacedpole pieces magnetically engaged therewith to provide said pole pieceswith opposite polarities.

9. The can handling apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said magneticassembly is formed of a permanent magnet and include spaced apart polepieces with opposite polarities said pole pieces being sufficientlynarrow only to attract a single can.

10. The canhandling apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of saidtransfer wheels is formed by a rotatable shaft, parallel and platessecured to said shaft for rotation therewith, with grooves formed in thecircum ference of each of said end plates, said resilient ring membersbeing positioned in said grooves to provide a resilient surface againstwhich each can body is urged against by magnetic force, and said magnetassemblies being positioned between said end plates at each of saidspaced points.

11. The can handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein said magneticassemblies each include a pair of spaced apart pole pieces, each polepiece being adjacent the respective end plates and wherein the can bodyis attracted to the associated transfer wheel to rest upon the resilientrings while maintaining a minimum space between said pole pieces andsaid can body.

1. Can handling apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyor includingendless belt means and magnetic means for maintaining can bodies inengagement with the active run of said belt means; a magnetic transferwheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a selected location alongsaid active run to remove said can bodies from said belt, the axis ofsaid wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means anddisposed generally perpendicular to the active run of said belt means,said transfer wheel including a plurality of magnetic assembliesdisposed about the circumference thereof at circumferentially spacedlocations, each said magnetic assembly including a magnetic arrangementand a pair of spaced pole pieces magnetically eNgaged therewith toprovide said pole pieces with opposite polarities, and at least two,spaced resilient ring members positioned about the circumference of saidwheel on opposite sides of said magnetic assemblies and defining theouter extremities of said transfer wheel, said magnetic assemblies beingdisposed radially inward of said resilient ring members such that canbodies will be attracted to and engaged with said transfer wheel whilephysically contacting only said resilient ring members to protect thesurface of said can bodies from damaging contact with the remainder ofsaid transfer wheel.
 2. Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein each said magnetic arrangement is a permanent magnet formed of aceramic material.
 3. The can handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidspaced locations are four in number.
 4. The can handling apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said transfer wheel is formed by a rotatable shaft,parallel end plates secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, withgrooves formed in the circumference of each of said end plates, saidresilient ring members positioned in said grooves to provide a resilientsurface against which each can body is urged against by magnetic force,and said magnet assemblies being positioned between said end plates ateach of said spaced locations.
 5. The can handling apparatus of claim 1further including stripper bar means positioned adjacent thecircumference of said transfer wheel to cause the can bodies to beremoved from the transfer wheel and directed to a second station forhandling can bodies.
 6. Can handling apparatus for conveying can bodiesfrom a first station to a second station while maintaining a desireddegree of spacing between said can bodies, said apparatus comprising: amagnetic conveyor including endless belt means and magnetic meansdisposed beneath the active run of said belt means for maintaining canbodies in engagement therewith; a first transfer wheel rotatably mountedadjacent and overlying a first selected location along the active run ofsaid belt means, the axis of said first transfer wheel being laterallyspaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generallyperpendicular to said active run, said first transfer wheel including aplurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies; supply meansoperatively positioned adjacent said first transfer wheel for supplyingcan bodies thereto, such that can bodies will be attracted to andengaged with said first transfer wheel at circumferentially spacedlocations; and means operatively associated with said first transferwheel for disengaging said can bodies therefrom to thereby dispose saidbodies on said magnetic conveyor in spaced relation corresponding to thecircumferential spacing of said magnetic assemblies; a second transferwheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a second selectedlocation along said active run of the belt means, the axis of saidsecond wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means anddisposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said secondtransfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spacedmagnetic assemblies corresponding in number and spacing to those of saidfirst transfer wheel, such that said second transfer wheel willmagnetically attract and remove can bodies from said conveying meansupon said bodies reaching said second location, while maintaining thedesired spacing between said can bodies; and means for removing said canbodies from said second transfer wheel.
 7. Can handling apparatus asdefined in claim 6, wherein each transfer wheel includes at least twospaced resilient ring members positioned about the circumference of thewheel on opposite sides of said magnetic assemblies and defining theouter extremities of said wheel, such that can bodies will be attractedto and engaged with said transfer wheels while physically contactingonly said resilient ring members.
 8. Can handling apparatus as definedin claim 7, wherein each Said magnetic assembly includes a magneticarrangement and a pair of spaced pole pieces magnetically engagedtherewith to provide said pole pieces with opposite polarities.
 9. Thecan handling apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said magnetic assembly isformed of a permanent magnet and include spaced apart pole pieces withopposite polarities said pole pieces being sufficiently narrow only toattract a single can.
 10. The can handling apparatus of claim 6, whereinat least one of said transfer wheels is formed by a rotatable shaft,parallel and plates secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, withgrooves formed in the circumference of each of said end plates, saidresilient ring members being positioned in said grooves to provide aresilient surface against which each can body is urged against bymagnetic force, and said magnet assemblies being positioned between saidend plates at each of said spaced points.
 11. The can handling apparatusof claim 10 wherein said magnetic assemblies each include a pair ofspaced apart pole pieces, each pole piece being adjacent the respectiveend plates and wherein the can body is attracted to the associatedtransfer wheel to rest upon the resilient rings while maintaining aminimum space between said pole pieces and said can body.